Packaging machines



Filed Sept. 29, 1964 g" 29, 1967 A. BILL} 3,338,026

PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l H Inventor Aeas'riNo aiLLa B w g 1 Attorneys 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 O I o illl O O O O O o 0 7 6 5 o 7/. 4 H O O O 2 w /4 l V o ||..|O|l||||.l| 0 w 0 lz 7 Inventor BILL? AsosriNa ZMM 'M A tlorney;

Aug. 29, 1967 B|| L| PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 Inventor Asos'riNo siLLi Attorney;

Aug. 29, I967 BlLLl PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 I nveruor AsosTiNo BfLLi vM A tlorney;

A. BILLI Aug. 29, 1967 PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y Inventor f, VM

Aeos'rmo.

A Horneys United States Patent 3,338,026 PACKAGING MACHINES Agostino Billi, Bologna, Italy, assignor to Carle & Montanari S.p.A., Bologna, Italy Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 400,144 Claims priority, application Italy, Oct. 16, 1963, 21,361/63 16 Claims. (Cl. 53-233) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Packaging machine comprising a rotatable drum interposed between a first conveyor for the articles, and an endless conveyor movable through a wrapper folding device; a pair of folding jaws movable with said second conveyor and spaced apart lengthwise thereof; said drum comprising at-least one article receiving pocket, a suction device for positioning a wrapper relative to an article in said pocket and a plunger to transfer an article and wrapper from said pocket between said jaws for movement therewith and for folding of the wrapper thereby into Uform about the article preparatory to further folding of the wrapper about the article by said wrapper folding means; a

The invention relates to a packaging machine for articles of substantially parallelepipedal, cubical or ovoid shape, such as for examples cakes of soap or the like.

It is an object of the inventionto provide a packaging machine capable of packing articles at a high rate of output using simple and relatively inexpensive devices, and to ensure unobjectionable packaging of articles the edges of which are considerably rounded off.

According to the invention there is provided a machine for articles of substantially parallelepiped, cubical, or ovoid shape, comprising a first endless conveyor adapted to move articles in succession and in spaced relation, wrapper folding means, a second endless conveyor operable to move articles with wrappers partly applied thereto relative to said wrapper folding means, a plurality of pairs of folding jaws movable with the second conveyor and spaced apart lengthwise thereof, the jaws of each pair being spaced apart lengthwise of the second conveyor and extending therefrom in a direction transverse V to the direction of movement of the conveyor, a rotatable drum interposed between said first and second conveyors and including at least one pocket adapted to move an article from the first conveyor to a position at which it is transferred to the second conveyor, a suction device cooperating with said pocket and operable to position a wrapper relative to an article located in the pocket for transfer with the article to a pair of jaws carried by the second conveyor, and a plunger movable with and relative to said drum and operable to transfer an article and wrapper from said pocket into and between a pair of said jaws for movement therewith and for folding of the wrapper thereby into U-form about the article preparatory to further folding of the wrapper about the article by said wrapper folding means.

In one embodiment of the invention the first and second conveyors are continuously movable and the drum is continuously rotatable thus resulting in a high working speed, since it eliminates the intermittent step-by-step motions and the corresponding reciprocating components of some known kinds of packaging machines. It is possible with a packaging machine according to the invention to package articles having extensively rounded off or chamfered edges because the plunger which transfers the article from the packet to the second conveyor can be arranged to support the article until the article and wrapper are moved on to a bottom folder by the jaws. By this means it is possible to avoid undesirable slewing of the article as it is moved by the second conveyor to the wrapper folding means.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a packaging machine according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the charging end of the machine,

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a part of feed device embodied in the machine,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through a conveyor drum,

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate with the conveyor drum, the figures being respectively an elevation, a top plan, and a cross-section,

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the conveyor drum,

FIG. 9 is an elevation of a folding device embodied in the machine,

FIGS. 10 to 15 show consecutive operations duringthe packaging of an article by the machine, and

FIG. 16 is a top plan of a part of the folding device shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, the packaging machine comprises a first continuously movable endless conveyor device 1, and a second continuously movable endless conveyor device 2 mounted above the device 1 for movement in the opposite direction. A continuously rotatable conveyor drum 3 is mounted between first conveyor device 1 and second conveyor device 2. The second conveyor device 2 moves between wrapper folding means 4, known per se, shown in bro 'en lines in FIG. 1. A wrapper feeding device 5 supplies paper or like wrappers for the packaging of individual articles. The articles to be packaged, for example cakes of soap 6 or the like, are fed to the conveyor drum 3 in spaced succession by the first a suction device employed conveyor device 1 and are transferred by the drum 3, to-

vmovement of the article and wrapper past the wrapper folding means 4. Sealing of the wrapper, for example by adhesive or heat-sealing, is also effected during movement of the article and wrapper by the second conveyor device 2. The packaged articles leave the machine on a belt conveyor 8 or the like and are delivered to a chute 9.

Hereinafter, for ease of description, the article 6 to be packaged will be referred to as a soap cake. The wrapper 7 may be of paper or of any other suitable material such as plastics foil, cellophane, or the like. The wrapper 7 may consist of one or more layers and when layered the layers may be of different materials.

The first conveyor device 1 comprises two endless parallel chains 10 (FIG. 2) each of which run round a sprocket 11 and beneath a fiat guide track 12 which preferably slopes upwards in the direction of movement of the conveyor and has two lateral walls 112. Cross bars 13 which extend between the two chains 10 and are secured thereto at regular spaced intervals each have a forked pusher element 14 pivoted thereto. Each pusher element 14 has a control limb 114 which extends radially from the pivotal axis of the pusher element and is provided with a guide roller 15. The guide roller 15 is arranged to co-operate with a channel or U-shaped guide 16, see FIG. 3, which extend lengthwise beneath the guide track 12, see FIG. 2. When the guide roller 15 is engaged in the guide 16, the pusher element associated therewith is raised to be approximately at right angles to the plane of the upper run of the chains and the two forks of the pusher element project beyond the upper face of the guided track 12 through longitudinal slots 17 formed in the guide track 12. Should the guide roller 15 not be engaged in the U-shaped guide 16, but run on the underside 116, FIG. 3, thereof, the pusher element 14 lies approximately in the plane of the upper run of the pair of chains 10 and runs beneath the guide track 12 without projecting beyond the upper face thereof.

The soap cakes 6 to be packaged are delivered, for example from a chute 18, to the first conveyor device 1, and are pushed on to the guide track 12 by means of a driven feed roller 19, FIG. 2. At the side of the guide track 12 opposite from the feed roller 19 a feeler arm 20, FIGS. 2 and 3, is pivoted about a pin 21 and has a free extremity 120 which is bent downwards over the edge of the guide track 12 to close off the inlet end of the channel guide 16. The feeler arm is held in this channel closing position by a spring 22. In front of the inlet end of the guide 16 there is also a curved guide lever 24 pivoted about a pin 23, the guide lever 24, under the action of a spring being arranged to bear against the underside of the guide 16 to form therewith an even path into the guide channel.

The feed roller 19 presses each incoming soap cake 6 against the feeler arm 20, the-latter thereby being rotated against the action of the spring 22, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, so that its extremity 120 uncovers the inlet end of the channel guide 16. The guide roller 15 of the next pusher element 14 runs on to the curved guide lever 24 is guided thereby into the channel guide 16, and raises the forks of the pusher element 14 so that the forks engage the soap cake 6 and moves it along the guide track 12 towards the conveyor drum 3. In doing so, the soap cake 6 actuates a control switch 26, FIG. 2, which switches on the operating sequence of the machine for the packaging of the soap cake.

Should the soap cake 6 be not completely pushed on to the guide track 12 by the feed roller 19, the feeler arm 20 remains in its inoperative position, in which its extremity 120 covers the inlet end of the guide 16.

In these circumstances the guide roller 15 of the approaching pusher element 14 impinges on the chamfered end of the extremity 120, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, and is thereby deflected downwards, thus turning the guide lever 24 against the force of the spring 25 and causing the roller 15 to pass beneath the guide 16 to roll along the underside 116 thereof. The pusher element is accordingly rotated to an inactive position thereof so that it cannot engage the improperly located soap cake 6.

The conveyor drum 3 comprises a cylindrical drum barrel 27, FIG. 4, which is secured on a shaft 29 mounted in the machine frame 30 and is driven by a double chain drive 28, (FIGS. 4 and 8). On the outer end of the drum barrel 27 a plurality of pockets 31 are pivoted at equispaced intervals. Each pocket 31 is intended to receive one soap cake 6 and is secured on a pin 32 which is pivoted in the drum barrel and projects beyond the opposite, that is the inner end, side of the barrel. The protruding inner end of the pin 32 has secured thereto a radial control lever 33 which carries a follower roll 34 located in a groove 35 in a stationary camp late 36 secured on the machine frame 30.

Each pocket 31 has associated therewith a plunger 37 which is secured to a pin 38 pivotally mounted in the drum barrel 27. The inner end of the pin 38 projects beyond the inner end face of the drum barrel 27 and has a radial control lever 39 which carries a follower roller 40 located in another groove 41 of the cam plate 36.

A tubular suction device 42, FIGS. 4 and 8, is associated with each pocket 31, and is secured in the drum barrel 27 to project beyond the outer end face thereof. Each suction device 42 is provided with a longitudinally extending suction slot, or with a row of suction holes,

and is in communication with a peripheral recess 43 on the drum barrel 27. During the rotation of the drum barrel 27, the recess 43 is intermittently moved into communication with an arc-shaped suction box 44 mounted to be stationary on the machine frame 30. The suction box is mounted externally around the drum barrel 27 and extends along a predetermined portion of the path of the periphery of the barrel 27. The suction box 44 is connected to a suction pipe 45 and has the open side thereof facing towards the drum barrel 27 and disposed in sealing contact with the drum barrel 27.

In machine being described, the soap cakes 6 are to be Wrapped in a two-layer wrapper 7, for example a wrapper comprising an outer paper sheet and an inner waxed paper sheet or the like. The two layers of paper are unreeled from appropriate rolls 107, 207, FIG. 1, by a pair of drawing rollers 46, are superimposed one on the other, and are cut to the required wrapper size by a cutting mechanism 47. The severed, two-layer wrapper 7 is fed over a guide plate 48 to the conveyor drum 3 to be engaged by a suction device 42.

The gripping of the wrapper 7 by the suction device does not entail any difliculty if this sheet has one layer,

. or if it consists of several layers increasing in width towards the top. It is however, frequently necessary to employ a wrapper 7 having for example, three layers, the middle layer 72, FIGS. 5 to 7, of which has a smaller width than the bottom layer 71, whereas the top layer 73 is the widest. This is the case, for example, with soap packs wherein the middle layer 72 is of stronger paper or thin board, and is merely Wound around the piece of soap but is not folded at the sides. In a case of this kind, the middle layer 72 cannot be grasped by a conventional suction device 42.

To accommodate this form of wrapper, provision is made for a tubular suction device 142, FIGS. 5 to 7, which on its suction side has a longitudinal trough-shaped depression 74 wherein the suction holes 75 are formed. At the opposite ends of this trough-shaped depression 74 the suction orifices 76 are of larger diameter. The sizes of the orifices are so chosen that the bottom layer 71 of the composite wrapper does not, or only partially, cover the lateral suction orifices 76, whereas the widest top layer 73 extends over these suction orifices 76 and preferably also beyond both extremities of the trough-shaped depression 74, as shown in FIG. 6.

With this arrangement, the application of negative air pressure to the suction device 142 draws the bottom layer 71 of the paper sheet 7 into the trough-shaped depression 74 and deforms it accordingly (FIG. 7). The intermediate space 77 formed by this deflection between the bottom layer 71 and the middle layer 72 is in communication at both extremities with the lateral suction orifices 76 and is closed off from the surrounding atmosphere by the top layer 73. The negative air pressure accordingly also becomes effective in the said intermediate space 77 and holds fast the middle layer 72. The top layer 73 is held fast direct by the part of the lateral suction orifices 76 it covers.

The second conveyor device 2 extends over the conveyor drum 3 and comprises either a simple endless chain 49, FIG. 9, or a pair of such chains. Secured to the chain 49 at regular predetermined spaced intervals are folding members 50 of approximately U-shaped and each comprising two folder jaws 51 and 52 which extend transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain 49. The folder jaw 52 precedes the jaw 51 in the direction of travel of the chain and is rigidly mounted on the chain whereas the trailing folder jaw 51 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 53. The distance between the two jaws 51, 52 is so selected that a soap cake 6 fits conveniently between them.

A resilient ram 54, or the like shown in FIG. 9 as a plate loaded by a spring 55 (downwards in FIG. 9), is

mounted moreover between the jaws 51, 52 of each pair 50 of jaws.

Each soap cake 6 fed to the conveyor drum 3 by the feed device is received by a pocket 31 and is moved thereby over a stationary arc-shaped guide surface 56, FIG. 8, to extend around the drum 3 in extension of the guide track 12, as shown in FIG. 10. It should be understood that for clarity only a single pocket 31 and associated plunger 37 is shown in FIGS. to 13.

During rotation of the conveyor drum 3, the soap cake 6 leaves the guide surface 56 and is then carried only by the pocket 31. The recess 43 of the drum 3, which is connected to the suction device 42, comes within range of the suction box 44 and is thereby connected to the source, not shown, of negative air pressure. The suction device 42 thus grips the extremity of the wrapper 7 projecting from the support face 48 and during continued rotation of the drum 3 draws the same over the pocket 31, as shown in FIG. 11. The take-off of the soap cake 6 from the first conveyor device 1 and its insertion into the pocket 31, are performed by appropriate swinging motions of the pocket 31 controlled by the cam plate 36.

When the pocket 31 carrying the soap cake 6 has approximately reached the top of the vertical diameter of the drum 3, it arrives in horizontal position beneath a pair 50 of jaws 51, 52 carried by the second conveyor device 2 and synchronised with the drum 3. The plunger 37 previously situated outside the pocket 31 is now rotated upwards, FIG. 12, by the action of the cam plate 36 through an aperture 131 in the base of the pocket 31 and presses the soap cake 6 together with the wrapper 7 upwards between the jaws 51, 52 as shown in FIG. 12. This operation folds the wrapper 7 in U-shape about the soap cake, and the wrapper is released at the same time by the suction device 42, since the connection orifice 43 of the suction device 42 leaves the suction box 44 and comes into communication with the surrounding atmospher'e.

A folding plate 57, FIGS. 1, 8 and 13, is reciprocable in the direction of travel of the second conveyor device 2 and is disposed at the insertion point of the soap cake 6 between the jaws 51, 52 (FIGS. 8, 13 and 16). The folding plate 57 is secured to two lateral slides 58, FIG. 4, carrying rollers 59 running in partially curved guides 60. The two slides 53 are hingedly secured to the limbs of a fork-shaped connecting rod 61 which is driven by a crank 62, FIG. 1. Two folding members 63, FIG. 4, are secured on the inner sides of the slices 58.

After the insertion of the soap cake 6 between the jaws 51, 52, the folding plate 57 is pushed forward in the direction indicated by the arrow, FIG. 13, at a higher speed than the running speed of the second conveyor device, and thereby folds the rear end of the wrapper 7 upwards about the rear end of the soap cake 6, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The folding members 63 subsequently press the wrapper 7 against the soap cake 6 and thereby form the first end fold 64 for the formation of the lateral or outer flaps 66, 67 of the package (FIG. 14).

The soap cake 6 is pushed into the folding means 4 and is moved therethrough by the jaws 51, 52 of the second conveyor device 2. During movement through the folding means 4, the rear unattached extremity of the wrapper 7 is initially folded rearwards by the leading edge of the bottom folder 104 on to the underside of the soap cake 6, as shown in FIG. 13. The soap cake 6 is supported by the plunger 37 as a result of the rotation of the drum 3, or is slightly raised, until a substantial 7 part of its length lies on the bottom folder 104. This ensures proper insertion of the soap cake 6 into the folding means 4 and reliable support thereof by the bottom folder 104 even if the soap cake has considerably rounded edges or if it is of oval shape. Without this support by the plunger 37 the rounded edged soap cake 6 would drop prematurely and strike the leading edge of the bottom folder 104.

During movement of the soap cake 6 through the folding means 4 the second lateral told 65, FIG. 14, of the wrapper and the formation of the lateral flaps 66, 67 of the package (FIG. 14) is effected in known manner by means of lateral folding members 68 (FIGS. 9 and 13). The lateral flaps 66, 67 also in known manner, are subsequently folded down on to the corresponding lateral faces of the soap of cake 6 by means of longitudinally extending folder guides 69, 70, as shown in FIG- URES 14 and 15.

It will be understood that adhesive applying means, not shown, may be provided, in known manner, to apply adhesive to overlying flaps of the folded wrapper to retain the flaps in the folded positions thereof.

Iclaim:

1. A packaging machine for articles of substantially parallelepiped, cubical, or ovoid shape, comprising a first endless conveyor adapted to move articles in succession and in spaced relation, wrapper folding means, a second endless conveyor operable to move articles with wrappers partly applied thereto relative to said wrapper folding means, a plurality of pairs of folding jaws movable with the second conveyor and spaced apart lengthwise thereof, the jaws of each pair being spaced apart lengthwise of the second conveyor and extending therefrom in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyor, a rotatable :drum interposed between said first and second conveyors and including at least one pocket adapted to move an article from the first conveyor to a position at which it is transferred to the second conveyor, a suction device co-operating with said pocket and operable to position a wrapper relative to an article located in the pocket for transfer with the article to a pair of jaws carried by the second conveyor, and a plunger movable with and relative to said drum and operable to transfer an article and wrapper from said pocket into and between a pair of said jaws for movement therewith and for folding of the wrapper thereby into U-form about the article preparatory to further folding of the wrapper about the article by said wrapper folding means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conveyors are disposed one above the other in spaced relation and are movable in opposite directions and wherein the rotatable drum is located between said conveyors at a position adjacent to overlying ends thereof.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the first and second conveyors are continuously movable and the drum is continuously rotatable.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper folding means includes a bottom folder and said plunger supports an article and wrapper transferred there- 'by from the pocket until the article and wrapper are moved on to the bottom folder by said jaws.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein the wrapper folding means includes a folding plate reciprocable lengthwise of the direction of movement of the second conveyor, said folding plate being operable following location of an article and wrapper between said jaws to move towards said jaws at a speed greater than the linear speed of the second conveyor to fold the trailing limb of the U-folded wrapper beneath the article.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the wrapper folding means include folding members movable with said folding plate and operable to form the first end folds of the wrapper.

7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the pocket and the plunger co-operating therewith are each pivotally mounted on the drum, and wherein pivotal movement of the pocket and plunger relative to the drum is effected by control levers connected with said pocket and plunger and co-operating with a stationary cam, said pocket having an opening in the bottom thereof through which the plunger is moved on pivotal movement thereof.

8. A machine according to claim 1 in which a wrapper consistsof three overlying sheets of wrapping material,

the bottom sheet having a width greater than that of the middle sheet but less than that of the top sheet, wherein said suction device is provided with a longitudinal troughshaped depression including a row of suction holes extending lengthwise of the trough with the holes at the ends of the row being larger than the others of the holes and positioned to be entirely covered by said top sheet but not more than partly covered by said bottom sheet.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said jaws is pivotally mounted on the second conveyor for movement towards and away from the other of the jaws, and wherein a ram is resiliently mounted between the jaws for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the second conveyor.

10. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the second conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains and pusher elements extending there between and pivoted thereto, each said pusher element including two forks extending radially from the pivotal axis of the pusher element, a guide track disposed above the upper run of said chains, sloping upwards in the direction of movement of said upper run, and having slots extending lengthwise thereof through which said forks can project to move an article over the upper surface of said guide track, a channel guide extending lengthwise of the guide track on the under side thereof, a roller carried by the pusher element and movable through said guide channel to retain the forks in the article-feeding positions thereof, and switching means cooperating with said roller to permit movement thereof through said channel guide and engagement of an article on said guide track by the forks of the pusher element or to cause the roller to be moved beneath said channel guide and the forks of the pusher element to be moved beneath the guide track, said switching means being operable to cause entry of the roller into the channel guide by an article properly positioned on the guide track for engagement by said forks.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein the switching means comprises an arcuate guide supported for pivotal movement towards and away from the'en trance to said channel guide and spring-urged to a position thereof at which it will be engaged by said roller to raise the forks of the pusher element into the articleengaging position thereof and guide the roller into the channel guide, and a spring-loaded feeler engageable by an article properly positioned on the guide track for en.

gagement by the forks of the pusher element, said feeler including a projection normally obturating the entrance to the channel guide for engagement by said roller thereby to cause movement of the arcuate guide away from the channel guide and permit the roller to pass beneath the channel guide and the forks of the pusher element beneath said guide track.

12. A machine according to claim 6, wherein the pocket and the plunger co-operating therewith are each pivotally mounted on the drum, and wherein pivotal movement of the pocket and plunger relative to the drum is effected by control levers connected with said pocket and plunger and co-operating with a stationary cam, said pocket having an opening in the bottom thereof through which the plunger is moved on pivotal movement thereof.

13. A machine according to claim 6, in which a wrapper consists of three overlying sheets of wrapping ma- 8 terial, the bottom sheet having a width greater than that of the middle sheet but less than that of the top sheet, wherein said suction device is provided with. a longitudinal trough-shaped depression including a row of suction holes extending lengthwise of the trough with the holes at the ends of the row being larger than the others of the holes and positioned to be entirely covered by said top sheet but not more than partly covered by said bottom sheet. I

14. A machine according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said jaws is pivotally mounted on the'second conveyor for movement towards and away from the other of the jaws, and wherein a ram is resiliently mounted between the jaws for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the second conveyor.

15. A machine according to claim 6, wherein the second conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains and pusher elements extending therebetween and pivoted thereto, each said pusher element including two forks extending radially from the pivotal axis of the pusher element, a guide track disposed above the upper run of said chains, sloping upwards in the direction of movement of said upper run, and having slots extending lengthwise thereof through which said forks can project to move an article over the upper surface of said guide track, a channel guide extending lengthwise of the guide track on the underside thereof, a roller carried by the pusher element and movable through said guide channel to retain the forks in the article-feeding positions thereof, and switching means co-operating with said roller to permit movement thereof through said channel guide and engagement of an article on said guide track by the forks of the pusher element or to cause the roller to be moved beneath said channel guide and the forks of the pusher element to be moved beneath the guide track, said switching means being operable to cause entry of the roller into the channel guideby an article properly positioned on the guide track for engagement by said forks.

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein the switching means comprises an arcuate guide supported for pivotal movement towards and away-from the entrance to said channel guide and spring-urged to a position thereof at which it will be engaged by said roller to raise the forks of the pusher element into the articleengaging position thereof and guide the roller into the channel guide, and a spring-loaded feeler engageable by an article properly positioned on the guide track for engagement by the forks of the pusher element, said feeler including a projection normally obturatin'g 1the entrance to the channel guide for engagement by said roller thereby to cause movement of the arcuate guide'away from the channel guide and permit the roller to pass beneath the channel guide and the forks of the pusher element beneath said guide track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,488 12/1901 Rose 53-23 3" 2,723,516 11/1955 Malhiot 53233 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner.

ROBERT L. FARRIS, LIONEL S. BOUCHARD,

Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELEPIPED, CUBICAL, OR AVOID SHAPE, COMPRISING A FIRST ENDLESS CONVEYOR ADAPTED TO MOVE ARTICLES IN SUCCESSION AND IN SPACED RELATION, WRAPPER FOLDING MEANS, A SECOND ENDLESS CONVEYOR OPERABLE TO MOVE ARTICLES WITH WRAPPERS PARTLY APPLIED THERETO RELATIVE TO SAID WRAPPER FOLDING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF FOLDING JAWS MOVABLE WITH THE SECOND CONVEYOR AND SPACED APART LENGTHWISE THEREOF, THE JAWS OF EACH PAIR BEING SPACED APART LENGTHWISE OF THE SECOND CONVEYOR AND EXTENDING THEREFROM IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CONVEYOR, A ROTATABLE DRUM INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONVEYORS AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE POCKET ADAPTED TO MOVE AN ARTICLE FROM THE FIRST CONVEYOR TO A POSITION AT WHICH IT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE SECOND CONVEYOR, A SUCTION DEVICE CO-OPERATING WITH SAID POCKET AND OPERABLE TO POSITION A WRAPPER RELATIVE TO AN ARTICLE LOCATED IN THE POCKET FOR TRANSFER WITH THE ARTICLE TO A PAIR OF JAWS CARRIED BY THE SECOND CONVEYOR, AND A PLUNGER MOVABLE WITH AND RELATIVE TO SAID DRUM AND OPERABLE TO TRANSFER AN ARTICLE AND WRAPPER FROM SAID POCKET INTO AND BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID JAWS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND FOR FOLDING OF THE WRAPPER THEREBY INTO U-FORM ABOUT THE ARTICLE PREPARATORY TO FURTHER FOLDING OF THE WRAPPER ABOUT THE ARTICLE BY SAID WRAPPER FOLDING MEANS. 